Period products will soon be made available for free at six City of Melbourne community facilities.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said vending machines stocked with period care products will be installed for at least 12 months, as part of a pilot program aimed at tackling period poverty.
"Around 15 per cent of people who menstruate in Victoria have been unable to afford period products at some stage in their lives," the Lord Mayor said.
"Everybody should be able to access pads and tampons, regardless of their personal circumstances, which is why we are taking the important step of offering these products for free, as soon as it's safe to reopen our community facilities."
When restrictions allow, free period products will be available at:
- Library at the Dock
- City Library
- Carlton Baths
- Melbourne Town Hall public toilets (on Collins Street)
- North Melbourne Community Centre
- Kathleen Syme Community Centre
Health, Wellbeing and Belonging portfolio lead, Councillor Dr Olivia Ball, said access to period care products should not be a luxury.
"Periods are a normal part of life and access to products to manage them is a basic necessity," Cr Dr Ball said.
"Some members of our community cannot regularly afford sanitary products, or may be unable to access them in an emergency, or in cases of domestic and family violence.
"This program will deliver vending machines stocked with supplies to locations across the CBD, Carlton, Docklands and North Melbourne."
Councillor Jamal Hakim, who put the motion to Council to introduce the program, said it aims to improve the health, comfort and inclusion of people who menstruate.
"Easy access to period products means that people who menstruate are able to fully participate in their communities in every way possible - whether that's for work, leisure or other community participation," Cr Hakim said.
"This pilot program gives us an opportunity to directly reach Melburnians in places they already visit for work, sport, study and other community activities.
"We'd welcome feedback from Melburnians as the pilot takes place, and will work with community organisations to see how we can expand the roll out of free period products in the municipality."
Statistics on period poverty in Australia
Share the Dignity - Period Pride Report: The Bloody Big Survey Findings, July 2021
https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/get-involved/period-pride/period-pride-survey
